This document outlines 10 steps for crafting a great presentation: 1) Prepare an outline, 2) Keep the end goal and audience in mind, 3) Learn about the audience, 4) Incorporate stories, 5) Focus on solid content, 6) Engage the audience, 7) Keep the message concise, 8) Conduct research using authoritative sources, 9) Provide handouts, and 10) Practice visualizing the presentation. The overall goal is to craft a presentation that engages the audience and leaves them remembering the key messages.

1. 10 STEPS TO
CRAFTING A GREAT
PRESENTATION
By Dr. Curtis R. Rogers, Communications
Director

2. 1. Prep time – outline your
thoughts

3. 2. Keep the end goal in mind
 What is the real
purpose of your
talk?
 Why is it that you
were ask to speak?
 What does the
audience expect?

4. 3. Learn about your audience
 Who is the audience?
 What is the purpose of the event?
 Why were you asked to speak?
 Where is it?
 When is it?

5. 4. Tell a story
 Good presentations include stories. The best
presenters illustrate their points with the use of
stories, most often personal ones.

6. 5. It’s all about content
 No matter how
great your
delivery, or
how
professional
and beautiful
your
supporting
visuals, if your
presentation is
not based on
solid
content, you

7. 6. Plan for engaging the
audience
 Depending on the
topic, plan an
exercise or ask
directed questions to
get audience
interaction.
 Remember to make
eye contact
 Don’t turn your back
to the audience
 Ask for questions and

8. 7. Less is MORE
EXERCISE:
If your audience
could remember
only three
things about
your
presentation,
what would you
want it to be?
(1)__________
(2)__________
(3)__________

9. 8. Find solid resources
 Do your research
 Ask a librarian
 Use authoritative
resources

10. 9. Provide handouts/take aways
 Make enough copies
 Give business cards
 Use PR items

11. 10. Visualize
 When your presentation
is ready, use visualization
techniques to help you be
comfortable and ready to
present.
 Concentrate on the room
size, presentation
equipment, where you’ll
be standing, how many
faces you’ll see in the
audience, how tables are
set up – everything!

12. Thank you!
 Dr. Curtis R. Rogers
 Communications Director
 803-734-8928
 crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov